WILLY Russell’s acclaimed musical Blood Brothers is coming to St Helens and Nolan sister Maureen, who’s been playing Mrs Johnstone on and off for 10 years, is still very much in the mood.

She says whenever the musical – which opens on Monday at St Helens Theatre Royal – is performed anywhere near Liverpool, where the story is set, it has an extra resonance.

Maureen first shot to fame as one of the Nolan Sisters in the 1970s, their best known hit being I’m in the Mood for Dancing, which reached number one in Japan in 1980.

Maureen, the third of six sisters who grew up with music in their genes, said: “On Blood Brothers, they joke that I’m the ‘resident stalker’ because I keep coming back.”

And she agrees with what people say – that if you’re not a lover of musicals, then Blood Brothers is the musical for you: “Musical fans love it but there are lots of people, often men, who say they don’t like musicals and I always tell them to go and see Blood Brothers.”

Why? “It’s a play as much as a musical,” she says, “Willy Russell is a great playwright and this musical has a story that gets under your skin, more so than other musicals.”

The plot revolves around twins, separated at birth, who go on to lead completely different lives – one becoming a respected councillor and the other ending up in prison.

Writer Russell, who grew up in Whiston, is also known for his plays Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine - both made into films in the 1980s.

Maureen said: “He tells great stories, simple as that. Blood Brothers is tragic but also laugh-out-loud funny and you don’t often get that. The music and lyrics, also written by Russell, are haunting.”

Maureen’s character Mrs Johnstone is the poverty-stricken mother who makes the heart-breaking decision to give away one of her twins, for what she feels are the right reasons.

She said: “It is just so tragic, but it’s a role I love, you can really immerse yourself in it. I get to sing a lot too, which is great”

Maureen was first asked to play the role 10 years ago in the West End. Since then she’s been in and out of tours, doing other shows in between.

“Blood Brothers is my favourite,” she says, “They’ll have to surgically remove me from it!”

Three of her sisters have also played the role, and they are listed in the Guinness Book of Records for the greatest number of siblings playing the same part.

The only member of the Nolans to have been part of every line-up, Maureen said the highlights of her career have been success in Japan and introducing her father to Frank Sinatra with whom they toured in 1975.

Blood Brothers will be performed at the Theatre Royal from November 17 to 22, starting at 7.30pm. There will be matinees on November 19 and 22. Tickets, costing £26, are available from the box office in Corporation Street, by calling 01744 756000 or visiting sthelenstheatreroyal.com.